Stump Cutting Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A stump cutting apparatus including a cutting wheel with a plurality of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. A plurality of apertures located in each of the tool holders. Each of said apertures having a cutting tool or tooth mounted therein whereby each tool holder supports more than one cutting tool or tooth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/886523 filed on May 3, 2013 claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/643,059, filed May 4, 2012. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/798,653, filed Mar. 15, 2013. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a stump cutting apparatus and, more specifically, to a stump cutting apparatus having a wheel, tool holder and cutting tool.

2. Description of Related Art

Various types of stump cutting devices are known. One type includes a rotatable wheel or disk having a plurality of cutting tools fastened adjacent a peripheral edge. A second type includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of cutting tools fastened adjacent to or on an outer circumferential surface. During operation, as the wheel or drum rotates the cutting tools engage and cut the stump. Each type uses a multitude of various cutting tool styles and configurations. A cutting tool typically includes a tool holder secured to the cutting wheel or drum and a cutting tooth secured to the tool holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A stump cutting apparatus including a cutting wheel with a plurality of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. Each cutting tool includes a plurality of apertures. A cutting tooth mounted in each aperture whereby each tool holder supports more than one cutting tooth.

The stump cutting apparatus may include a pair of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. The tool holders positioned diametrically opposite each other.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a stump cutting apparatus, seen generally at 10, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The stump cutting apparatus 10 generally includes a wheel 12, tool holders 14, holder blocks 16, and a plurality of cutting tools or cutting teeth 18 secured to the tool holder 14. As illustrated, the cutting tools 18 are located about the periphery or peripheral edge 20 of the wheel 12.

In one example of the present invention, the wheel 12 is a plate-like member mounted for rotation about an axis 22 in the direction of the arrow 24. The wheel 12 includes side surfaces 12 a and 12 b and a pair of radially extending arms or tool support segments 26. As illustrated, the tool support segments 26 extend radially outward along radius or radial 28. Each tool support segment 26 includes an outer surface 30 at the periphery or peripheral edge 20 of the wheel 12. The wheel 12 rotates in a generally circular pattern.

The wheel 12 further includes a central aperture 32 surrounded by a plurality of smaller apertures 34 suitable for securing the wheel 12 to a stump grinding machine. As used herein the term hub 36 refers to the area or portion of the wheel 12 located about or around the central aperture. While shown as a one-piece, integral member, the wheel 12 may be fabricated or formed of two or more pieces; for example, a hub 36 and at least one outwardly extending member or tool support segment 26 attached to the hub 36.

As used the term “wheel” broadly refers to any member rotated about a hub in a manner similar to a wheel and is not limited to a circular disk. For example, the outwardly extending support members 26 rotate about the axis 22 in a manner similar to a wheel. One or more radially extending tool support segments 26 connected to the hub 36 would comprise a “wheel.” Further, conventional stump cutting nomenclature refers to the portion of the stump cutter that rotates with the cutting teeth as the “wheel.”

As illustrated, the outer surface 30 forms the distal end of the tool support segment 26. In the disclosed example, the outer surface includes a swept back or curved portion 38 that may have a curvature somewhat associated with the circumference of the wheel 12 established by rotating the peripheral edge 20 about the axis 22. The curvature may change such that it lies under the circumference of the wheel 12. The configuration of the outer surface 28 of the tool support segment 26 may be something other than curved.

Each tool support segment 26 includes a forward facing support surface or mounting surface 40 extending outwardly from the axis 22. As disclosed further, the tool holder 14 is connected to the wheel 12 at the support or mounting surface 40. The support or mounting surface 40 is a flat or planar surface extending between the respective sides 12 a, 12 b of the wheel 12. The plane of the support or mounting surface 30 lies in or is parallel to the axis 22 of rotation. The support or mounting surface 30 is a forward facing surface regarding the rotation direction 24 of wheel 12. In the illustrated example, a plane extending along the radial 28 passes or extends through and is parallel to the axis 22 or centerline of the wheel 12 with the support or mounting surfaces 30 of the respective tool support segments 26 on or forward of the plane. In an alternative example, the support surface 40 of the tool support segment 26 may be angled, canted or skewed regarding the plane. The distal end of the support or mounting surface 40, the end at the intersection of the support or mounting surface 40 and the outer surface 30 of the tool support segment 26, remains at or forward of the plane. The terms forward and rearward are based upon the direction of rotation of the wheel 12 during the cutting operation. Since the wheel rotates in the direction 24 about the axis 22 of the plane rotates in the same direction 24 wherein the area to the left of the plane is forward and the area to the right is rearward. The proximal end of the support or mounting surface 40 may be located forward or rearward of the plane.

While the support or mounting surface 40 and illustrated as planar, it may be V-shaped, stepped, serrated, elliptical, concave or convex. Since the tool holder 14 is secured to the support or mounting surface 40, the tool holder 14 should have a corresponding or complementary shape to that of the support or mounting surface 40. The support or mounting surface 40 may have a width greater than the width or thickness of the wheel 12. The width or thickness of the wheel being the distance between the respective side surfaces 12 a, 12 b of the wheel 12 at a location spaced from the support surface 40. For example, the support or mounting surface 40 may extend laterally outwardly whereby it has a width substantially equal to the width of the tool holder 14 whereby the width or thickness of the support surface 30 then tapers inwardly until it reaches the width or thickness of the wheel 12. Increasing the width or lateral thickness of the support or mounting surface 40 provides additional support to the tool holder 14.

The tool support portions 26 take the shape of a cantilevered member thus reducing the overall size and weight of the tool support portions 26 necessary to support the tool holders 14.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 the respective mounting surfaces 40 are both on the same plane extending along the radius 28 and passing through the center point or axis of rotation 22. In this example, the wheel 12 is substantially symmetrical about a plane extending along a radial or radius 50 and parallel to the rotational axis 22 and perpendicular to the plane extending along the radial 28. Making the wheel 12 symmetrical in this manner balances the weight and correspondingly aids in reducing vibration resulting from the wheel being out of balance. Reducing the overall wheel 12 size correspondingly reduces the weight and the horsepower needed to rotate the wheel whereby the horsepower can be transferred directly to the cutting operation rather than used to rotate the wheel 12.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stump cutting apparatus comprising: a member having an axis of rotation; said member including a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface; and said member is a mirror image about a plane containing the axis of rotation.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plane containing the axis of rotation includes a radial perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is divided into four sections with only two of said sections having a tool holder.
 4. A stump cutting apparatus comprising: a member having an axis of rotation; said member divided into four sections; only two of said sections of said member having a mounting surface.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a first mounting surface having a longitudinal axis and a second mounting surface having a longitudinal axis wherein said longitudinal axis of said first mounting surface and said longitudinal axis of said second mounting surface are parallel.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface, said first mounting surface and said second mounting surface being diametrically opposed.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said four sections are created by first and second perpendicular planes, said first and second perpendicular planes intersecting at said axis of rotation.
 8. A stump cutting apparatus comprising: a member having an axis of rotation; said member including a pair of outwardly extending support arms; a tool holder mounted on each of said outwardly extending support arms; a plurality of cutting tools located in said tool holder; and said member symmetrical about a plane extending through and parallel to said axis of rotation. 